A/N: The end is near. One more chapter plus this, so I hope you enjoy
xoxo
"Joe, have you ever thought about marriage?" Lexi queried. Lexi and Joe sat in study hall as Lexi helped Joe study for his final exam of the semester.
"Marriage…of course. I mean, I gotta find the right woman for me, you know." Joe replied. He was surprised by Lexi's comment seeing that they was only in college and had their whole life to live before considering marrying someone. But he considered Lexi one of his best friends so he felt extremely comfortable with her and discussing all topics.
"And what would you consider the right woman for you?" There was no real purpose for Lexi's constant questioning. She was mostly curious about where the motives of a guy like Joe would be.
"Um, wow…I guess someone that's smart, beautiful – inside and out.' There was a pause before Joe continued as he pondered on what would be the ideal woman for him. 'I got to be able to feel like I can't live without her and she can't live without me. She has to be someone I trust, someone who is herself and loves me…for me." Joe's gaze drifted to no specific place in the room, but Lexi could sense he was speaking from the heart.
"Wow." She uttered taking Joe out of his muse. There was a prolonged pause before Joe spoke up.
"Soo, what's your ideal guy? Let me guess he got to be tall, dark, and handsome." Joe teased causing Lexi to playful punch him in his bicep.
"Oh please Joey, I never said that. I don't even think the ideal guy is even out there for me." Lexi explained. Joe noticed the sadness in her face and his brows furrowed. How could someone so smart and beautiful like her not have faith that the love of her life was out there in the world.
"Hey, hey.' Joe cupped her chin with his index finger and thumb, turning her attention to him. 'Don't say that Lex. You are beautiful, smart, and sweet – any guy in the world would be happy to have you. Hell, I know I would."
"Oh please Joe, you're just saying that because we're friends. You don't mean that."
"Like hell I do!' Joe quipped. 'Stop doubting yourself. There is someone out there for everybody, including you and me. We'll find that person one day and maybe we'll both get to be happy." Joe continued.
"I guess you right…come on Joey, let's finish up. You got a big exam in the morning." Lexi proclaimed.
Joe playfully punched her cheek causing her to blush.
Little did either of them know, that they was each other's ideal mate.
Soul mate.
"I can't…I'm not saying yes." Lexi explained. The background grew subtlety silent. Joe stood up to his feet still holding Lexi's small hand inside of his.
"What? What you mean? I thought…" Joe tried to respond but felt himself choking up - making it hard for him to finish his sentence. Besides, words couldn't describe the pain he was feeling right now anyways.
"Lexi…what's wrong? I thought you said you love my son." Mama Patty said in shock. At this point, Lexi wanted the ground to open and pull her inside. Never before had she seen so many disappointed expressions from people she knew cared about her.
"I do…I do love Joe…" She started but Joe spoke over her.
"So what is it Lexi? Do you understand how much I love and care about you. What else do I have to do? What do I have to prove, because…" Lexi cut Joe off by placing her index finger in the center of his lips.
"Joe, you didn't let me finish…' She returned. 'I do love you Joe with every fiber of my body and most importantly I'm in love with you.'
'So what's the problem? Why can't you say yes?" Joe asked annoyed.
"The reason I can't say yes….is because I say hell yes. Hell fucking yes…I will marry you Joe!" The surprised look on Joe's face told it all. With a shaky hand, Joe slipped the 18 karat diamond ring on Lexi's candy apple red finger. In between sobs, Lexi wiped the tears from Joe's face, kissing him passionately. Instinctively, Joe lifted her off her feet, pulling her in for a big embrace.
"Ooo, you are soooo going to pay for that later." Joe murmured against the sensitive flesh under her jaw line.
Lexi pulled away, clinching his cheeks as the rest of the noise around them seized and it was just now them.
"I'm looking forward to it." She allured. Joe placed her down on her feet. Lexi wasn't convinced that she and Joe was really ready for marriage. They still had a lot of issues to fix between them, but what Lexi did know was that Joe was the man she loved deeply and she didn't want to be with anyone but him. That was a good enough reason to have Joe as her king.
~!~
It was going on midnight before Joe, Lexi, and his parents cleaned up the house from the party. Once they put Amelia to bed, they headed up to their bedroom – both completely exhausted.
"What a day." Lexi said idly, tossing her small anatomy down in the middle of the bed. She kicked off her shoes and curled up in the bed, pulling the covers over her body. She secretly admired Joe as he pulled off his shirt revealing his chiseled abs and back, while pulling down his jeans and kicking them off from around his ankles. Lexi found herself nibbling on her bottom lip now that Joe stood in only his boxer briefs.
"You like what you see?" He said in a sultry tone, catching Lexi off guard. She had no idea that Joe knew that she staring. God only knows how long he knew she was gawking.
"Actually I do." She returned. She could hear Joe snort as he pulled the elastic from his long raven tresses. He turned around slowly with a lustful spark in his eyes. Lexi propped herself on her elbows as she watched Joe stalk over to her, never removing eyesight. Once he appeared at the edge of the bed, he forcefully pulled the covers back – yanking Lexi by her ankles and pulling her body up to him. Lexi's giggles descended the entire room.
"I wasn't kidding when I said you would pay for what you did earlier. Can't play around with a man's emotions like that." Joe wrapped Lexi's legs around his slim waist as he ran his hands under her dress, rubbing her thighs.
"Aw, I made my baby cry. Tell me what mama gotta do to make it up to you." Lexi impish. Joe licked his lips and Lexi could already feel her essence starting to drip between her legs.
Joe pulled her lips closer to hers as he grasped the nap of her neck. Lexi expected him to be forceful but instead his kiss was soft and passionate. Lexi moaned into his mouth, feeling his tongue invade her throat. Instinctively, she cupped his cheeks, deepening the kiss. Lexi could feel Joe's hands move from her thighs as they made their way to the hem of her dress. Suddenly, Lexi felt her dress being lifted over her head. She was hesitant to part lips with Joe but she had no choice. Her dress found itself on the floor aside the bed. Before their lips could lock again, Lexi paused.
"What's wrong baby?" Joe questioned as he ran a gently thumb along her cheek.
"Joe, do you remember our first time?' Joe pulled back to look into the glazed hazel orbs of his new fiancée.
'Yeah…it was special." He replied.
"Yeah and it was also in this exact room." She murmured. Lexi noticed the mischievous smirk spread along his wide lips and she knew what he was thinking. Gently, Joe laid her down on her back, climbing on top of her. He grabbed her small hand, kissing her knuckles.
"Yes it was and I treasured that moment...just like I treasure every moment with my queen." Lexi felt her cheeks flush as her lips found Joe's again. There was nothing else to say, all she wanted to do was treasure this moment with her fiancée.
The man of her dreams.
~!~
Lexi awoke the next morning from the brewing sunlight that crept between the satin curtains. It was always the first few moment of awakening where you forget where you was – staring down at the huge diamond ring snuggled on her left index finger, Lexi knew exactly where she was. A huge grin spread against her puffy lips as she pondered on the amazing night she had with Joe. They spent the entire evening analyzing each other's anatomies with their tongues. But Lexi's smile soon disappeared when she noticed that the spot next to her that was once occupied by her Samoan king, was now empty. As Lexi sat up in bed, her body was slightly sore. She listened in for any movement on the other side of the bedroom door. Nothing.
She sat like this until she realized there was no one in the hallway. I guess they're all downstairs she thought to herself. Lexi pulled the cream duvet back and felt the coldness of the wooden floor underneath her bare feet. She slipped on her robe that was draped at the edge of the bed and tied it before leaving out the door and ambling down the stairs. Even still while she stood in the foyer, it didn't seem that anyone was home. She suddenly wondered where everyone could have went.
She meandered into the kitchen, where Joe awaited her. Sitting at the dining table, a full breakfast was laid out on the table for Lexi, who stood in shock in the doorway.
"Good morning beautiful." Joe said as Lexi felt her knees grow weak due to his masculinity. He was no longer in his pajamas, but was now fully dressed in a tight-fitting black shirt and cargos pants.
"Morning babe…where is everyone?" She queried as she watched Joe pull a chair out for her and she hesitantly sat down.
"They're out for the moment." He answered nonchalantly.
"And Amelia?" Lexi asked with an arched brow.
"Don't worry babe, she's with them. Just enjoy your breakfast and when you're done I have another surprise for you." Joe murmured in her ear. She could feel his hot breath against her earlobe and she felt the chills tingle down her bare back. Her brows began to furrow. Joe was surely full of surprises lately and she wasn't so happy about them either. Lexi hated surprises. Whatever the big secret was, Lexi was sure it would be special, the waiting process made her anxious.
Finally finished with breakfast, Lexi allowed Joe to convince her to get dressed and then they was going out somewhere. Still no sign of any of Joe's family nor Amelia. Lexi couldn't even get in contact with Megan, whose phone continued to go to voicemail. Annoyed and frustrated, Lexi did as Joe asked. Once she was dressed in a simply Alaia sundress and gladiator sandals, she met Joe outside.
"Really Joe, you are pissing me. Can you tell me where we are going?" Joe smirked at her while holding her door open for her.
"In due time." Slamming the passenger door shut, Joe walked around to the driver's seat, getting inside and starting the engine.
"Joe, you know I hate surprises. Just tell me!" Lexi had now become irate.
"Calm down baby girl. You'll find out soon enough." And with that, he pulled into traffic. Sitting back in the seat with a pout and her arms folded along her bosoms, Joe couldn't help but grin at Lexi's stubborn behavior. At the following red light, Joe took his eyes off the road and placed his focus on Lexi. Teasing her, he pinched her lip in hopes to lift her spirits, but she only swatted his hand away.
"Can you not." She growled.
"Oh, so you mad at me now?"
"More like pissed. I hate when you do this Joe. I hate it!" Joe didn't realize the light had changed until he heard the boisterous and obnoxious honking and raging of drivers behind him.
"Lex, you overreacting big time right now. You act like I'm going to do something horrible. It's just a surprise; a surprise you'll love. So relax." Joe noticed the change in his mood instantly. This was not how he was expecting to spend his first day with his new fiancée.
"You know what, take me back to the house. I don't have time for this." Lexi snarled.
"I'm not doing a damn thing. You going to sit back and relax yourself."
"You're not my father Joe! You're not going to tell me what to do either." Joe ignored her completely. He despised when she acts like this. The rest of the car ride was rode in silence. The excitement that Joe was feeling to show his surprise had completely went out the window. But, he knew that he had to since all his family was waiting.
Finally reaching the destination, Joe shut off the engine as they allowed silence to descend the car.
"Joe. Where are we?" Lexi queried whilst staring out the window. They was parked in the driveway of a Victorian style home that didn't seem familiar to Lexi.
"Lexi, this is your house….our house."
"Wait what?" Lexi eyes was wide as she sat in shock. Not only was the 2 story house the most beautiful sight Lexi had seen in years, it had a beautiful front yard. With the double hung windows, to the brick paved driveway, this home was everything Lexi could have dreamed of.
"This is our house…this was my surprise." Lexi felt like a complete idiot. To this day she still couldn't allow herself to trust anyone with her life, not even Joe. No matter how much she wanted to herheart wouldn't fully let her. This was something she knew she would have to work on because the thought of losing Joe sickened her.
"Dios Mio, Joe I'm sorry baby.' Lexi cupped Joe cheek as he couldn't help but blush. 'I didn't mean to react like that, you know that I can be insecure sometimes, but…" Before Lexi finished her sentence, she felt Joe's tongue swell in her throat, invading her senses. She couldn't help but moan once she felt Joe nibble on her swollen lip. Boy, she loved this man and his lips.
"Are you ready?" Joe murmured, his breath heating her nostrils. Lexi was so caught up in the sizzling kiss that Joe just put on her that she was only able to mutter a positive nod of her head.
Joe cupped her hand into his as they entered the house.
"Surprise!" Lexi nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw all of her and Joe loved ones standing inside of her new home.
"Guys…this is…this is…" Lexi felt her eyes swell until she felt the tight grip around her leg from her daughter as Megan embraced her.
"This is your birthday gift….the real gift." Megan yelped.
"Wait Meg…you knew about this?" Lexi asked.
"Of course! How do you think Joe got all this together. You really think he did this on his own."
Hey, hey…I could have done this alone." Joe proclaimed while grabbing a beer from Jon's hand. He grabbed Lexi's hand where she was surrounded by his family, as he pulled her off to the side.
"Joe….this is beautiful. I can't believe you did this." Lexi was overwhelmed with emotions. Why was she so damn emotional? It had to be because she found the man of her dreams. Lexi snuck a sweet peck on Joe's lips, leaving the stain of her red lipstick lingering.
Wiping the lipstick from his lips, "Joe Anoai, have I told you enough times how much I love your sexy ass." Lexi wrapped her arms around Joe's nap.
Joe smirked. "Alexis Santana, have I told you enough times how much I love you back, no matter how crazy you are." The couple sealed the deal with a kiss, happy to start over. It felt good to know for once it was just them. They could live in love and peace.
It felt good to be in love…finally.
